General Tso’s Chicken from Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees (Gluten-Free)

Welcome to the Mid-Autumn Festival Blog Feast celebrating the award-winning cookbook, Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees by Kian Lam Kho. I am honored to be part of the team cooking recipes from this book and it is my privilege to share Kian’s General Tso’s Chicken recipe with you.

Mid-Autumn is the second most important celebration after Chinese New Year in the Chinese holiday calendar. It is a chance for families to enjoy the harvest moon by sharing a feast together. Today’s recipe is Tso Good! (Sorry, couldn’t resist) This version is luxurious, decadent and indulgent – just what you want in any great meal. It is so good, quick, and easy – this is going to become one of our family’s favorite meals!

Last April I was incredibly lucky to be invited to a private event in Los Angeles from Cook ‘n Scribble where Kian Lam Kho prepared a dish for us, teaching us the techniques of Chinese wok cooking that he honed over many years. Working with precision and great skill, he explained each step of the preparation, how to cut the ingredients so they cook perfectly, the trick of par-cooking the proteins and adding them back at the end to finish cooking, and the history behind unique names for dishes on Chinese menus … in the title of the book, Phoenix Claws refers to chicken feet and Jade Trees are broccoli. Remarkable!

A couple of days later I was thrilled to be seated right behind Kian when he won the prestigious Julia Child First Book Award at the annual International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) conference. It is always a thrill to see people you know win!

There is so much history and knowledge in this book – it will change the way you think about Chinese food. From the explanations about ingredients to historical references, you are transported to another fascinating land and cuisine. Mesmerizing is not too strong a description!

Look at the richness of this sauce!

General Tso’s Chicken has a varied and curious history, with many people taking credit along the way. Kian explains: “This version of General Tso’s Chicken resembles the original created by Peng Chang-Kuei in Taiwan. Strictly speaking it is not a traditional Hunan dish, but the technique and flavors are inspired by the chef’s Hunan background. It is not as sweet as the standard American version, and is laced with lots of garlic.”

Preparing to fry the chicken

One of the tricks that Kian teaches us is to par-cook the chicken first, frying it in vegetable oil then setting aside to drain. This helps the tapioca coating stay crispy longer and the chicken doesn’t get overcooked while you’re waiting for everything else to cook through. If you are new to Chinese cooking, be sure to check out his article on how to stock your kitchen with the basics to be able to make a wide variety of dishes.

Today’s recipe in “Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees cookbook”

As if having this delicious recipe wasn’t enough, you can WIN a copy of Kian’s gorgeous cookbook for your very own (thank you Clarkson Potter). You can recreate all of his beautiful recipes in your own home because Kian provides all the information, hints, and clues you need to get perfection every time!

Win this beautiful Anolon Nouvelle Copper 12-inch Stir Fry pan!

The Anolon Nouvelle Copper 12-inch Stir Fry pan I used to make the chicken, has a multi-layer metal base with a copper core that creates even and quick heating for all your cooking needs. It is deep enough for easy frying without splattering, the non-stick surface keeps everything from sticking during cooking, and can be used in a myriad of ways – it is a must-have for every kitchen. And today you can WIN one!

And now for the Giveaway … One lucky reader will receive a copy of “Phoneix Claws and Jade Trees” and an Anolon Nouvelle Copper 12-inch Stir Fry Pan! Click on the Rafflecopter below the recipe … the more options you complete the more chances you have to win. Apologies to my international friends, this contest is open to U.S. residents only.

Jane’s Tips and Hints:

Shaoxing rice wine is a common ingredient in many Chinese dishes and its unmistakable fragrance and flavor enhances anything you add it to. The closest substitution is a high quality dry sherry, sake, or mirin. But if you can, buy a bottle either online or at a Chinese market (Tai Jade Michiu by TTL is gluten-free and made in a rice-only facility). If you love making Asian dishes at home, you should keep a bottle in your pantry! If you can’t find black vinegar locally, you can approximate the flavor with an equal amount of balsamic vinegar + 1/4 tsp smoked paprika.

Gluten-Free Tips:

You can buy or make gluten-free hoisin sauce – Joyce Chen’s brand is a good choice – and there are a wide range of recipes available online. Kikkoman and San-J both make gluten-free soy sauce which you can use to make your hoisin!

Combine all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Add the chicken cubes and stir well. Let marinate 20 minutes.

Combine all the sauce ingredients in another bowl and mix well.

Prepare the Chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or stir-fry pan over high heat until it is shimmering, about 375°F. Put the tapioca starch in a large bowl and roll the marinated chicken cubes in the starch. Be sure to coat each piece generously. Fry the chicken cubes in the hot oil in two batches until they are golden brown, about 4 minutes. Drain the chicken cubes and set them aside on a double layer of paper towels.

Remove all but 2 tbsp of the vegetable oil from the wok. Add the garlic and ginger to the wok and stir-fry for about 30 seconds. Add the chiles and stir-fry for another 30 seconds. Stir the sauce mixture so the starch is blended completely and pour it into the wok. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute. Return the chicken to the wok and quickly toss the pieces in the sauce. Add the sesame oil and stir it into the chicken.

Garnish with the toasted sesame seeds and sliced scallion greens.

Notes

Yield: 2 or more main course servings

By Kian Lam Kho

The Heritage Cook ® http://theheritagecook.com/

This Giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner Will!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Anolon. I received equipment to prepare this recipe and to give away to one of my readers. Thank you for supporting my partnerships with brands that I love to work with and whose products I use regularly. As always, all opinions are my own.

Let’s connect! If you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, need to alter a recipe for gluten-free, or want recipe suggestions, don’t hesitate to email me. Feel free to quote me, just give credit where credit is due, link to the recipe, and send people to my website. Unauthorized use, distribution, and/or duplication of proprietary material from The Heritage Cook without prior approval is prohibited. If you have any questions or would like permission, please contact me.

The suggestions here are not intended as dietary advice or as a substitute for consulting a dietician, physician, or other medical professional. It is the reader’s sole responsibility to determine which foods are appropriate and safe for their family to consume. The author makes no claims regarding the presence of food allergens and disclaims all liability in connection with the use of this site. Please see the Disclaimers page for additional details.

This recipe was surprisingly easy, just follow the clearly outlined steps that Kian includes in the recipe. Get all your ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking – I had this on the table in no time!

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